Flexible material package



March 25, 1958 w, TAYLOR, JR 2,828,092

FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKAGE Filed March 26, 1953 5 sheets-Sheet 1 I 2 l l I I. l l l l v| I y v w I M E I E E x I I LIfiVENTQR Q o I .g 5 I ay-22:.

March 25, 3 w. P. TAYLOR, JR 2,828,092

' FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKAGE Filed March 26, 195:5 5 Shets-Sheet z INVENTOR WWZTE/P 7/0 40, JK

)WW 6 W ATTORN 5 .March 25, 1958 w. P. TAYLOR, JR v 2,328,092

FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKAGE Filed March 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 'ITORNEKS March 25, 1958 w, TAYLOR, JR 2,828,092

FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKAGE Filed March 26,1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M4 727? 777Y40A; J4.

ATTORNEY?! March 25, 1958 w. P. TAYLOR, JR 2,823,092

FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PACKAGE Fi led Margh 26, 195: s Sheets-Sheet 5 w INVENTOR Bv'gam b ATTORNEYS.

Unite fates ate The invention relatesttothe winding ofLfliexiblematerial,

and includes am'ethod of. winding; .aama'chinelfor carrying.

out the method anda package. The applicationti's'a-continuation-in-part of my prior Patent-1 No.= 216343922, granted April. 14, 1953'.

In. my prior application justreferredlto, as well' as in my PatentNo; 2,634,923, grantediApril- 14, 1953,.I- have shown a packagerof flexible materialwound'in -coilsg each of; which forms at least one figure 8; with a holethrough the body of the packagethroughwhich the inner "end of the: material is led' out. This results in equalization of twist and prevents kinking and snarlin'g of the material.

The. primary object of the present invention is'to-provide'an improved package of this type, which' is sturdier, more self-supporting. and more foolproof than those previously described;

Another object of. the invention is tol' providea process for -winding suchapackage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for Windingsu'ch-a package, this=machine being ini general similar. to-that shown in-thePat'ent 35 No; 2,634,918, April. 14, 19-53.

A further object of the invention is-to' provide amethod and machine for laying up successive layers of cells on a spindle with the corresponding bightsof the-coils of successive layers lying in: substantially parallel planes. In the ordinary package, formed byrelative'movementbetween a source of supply and arotating spindle, the-distancebetween the guide and'the spindle axisbeingkept constant, the bights of the coils of successive layers lie in planes which converge at a point close to -thespiiidle axis. This produces extra length ineach loop which causespiling up at the end edges of the package. The package so formed lacks endwise. stability; and thepileup produces needless bends in the flexible material. In such a package there is some danger that the coils may shake loose endwise before their turns come in the'payout, which can interfere with the coil being withdrawn and thus prevent proper withdrawal of the flexible material.

I have found that these disadvantages can be greatly reduced by having the bights of corresponding coils in successive layers lying in parallel planes. To produce this eflect, I provide means for varying the distance between the guide and the spindle axis from layer to layer in such a way as to produce the desired efiect'. In a machine in which the spindle axis is fixed and the guide moves back and forth along the spindle, this is accomplished by moving the guide closer to the spindle axis as successive layers are wound on the spindle.

I have also found that it is desirable to have the ends of such a package in spherical form. This increases the stability and self-supporting qualities of the package, since it is like a ball in which each loop or'coil holds the ball formed by previous coils, and since it distorts the flexible material to as small a degree as possible. Such a package can be wound under low pressures, which is especially desirable with wire.

A aszaaaz PatentedMar. 2.5,. 1958 A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type' oflspindle on whichpackages of this type can be wound;

This spindle also: provides for the; end edges of: successive= layers to'b'eformed at progressively varying distan'cessfzo'm the axis of'the package, preferably approaching a conewhose apex points: towards the longitudinal center'of the' package. A-support ofashapeto support these end edges may also be provided in thecompleted package; This arrangement also reduces to some degree the pile-"up at the ends andimprovesthe stability and payout.

Further objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear more fully fromthefollowing description, especially whentaken in conjunction: withthe accompanying drawings which-form' a- 'part thereof;'

In" the drawings:

Fig; 1 is= a front view ota machine for carrying-out the invention;-

Fig. 3 shows in side" elevation, from the right in Fig. l tliemechanism for changing'the distance ofthe guide from; the spindle; K

Fig. 4 is: aed'etail front view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism ofFiga 3 Fig. 6 shows in cross-section a spindle adapted for winding packages according tc the invention;

Fi'gsu. 7 andl 8" are explanatory diagrams;

Eigst9ftbl?) show in sideelevationmodified forms'of the spindle;

Figs. l'3lt0 15 are'cross-sections'through packagesmade in I accordance with the invention;

Fig: 1 6 showsin' side elevation asystem of producing packages in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 1 7 is; afragmentary-viewof-Fig. 16' with partsin section; and

Figs 18 is a= cross-section through a package produced theaarra-ngement of'Figs'. 16 and 17.

The construction and operation of" the machine arein most respects similar tothat shown in the Taylor and Whipple" Patent- No. 2634918 referred" to above. Part 4 -through'. ratiochanging device-Zfi-drives shafts, 36, 46 which: cause reciprocation of rods- 78, 8t) alternately in opposite directions. Part 4 also drives spindleshaft 18. Cams: 120; I22, 140 at periodic-intervals operate to disengageclutch 50in the-connection from the motor-to rods 78, so that motion of these rods isstoppedxfor a predetermined time. This stopping forms the, opening through the body of the package through which the inner endoftheflexible material can be withdrawn.

The present machine differs from that shown in the Taylor andWhipple Patent No. 2,634,9l8fin'the mounting and control of the guide for the flexible material and in the spindle, althoughboth thesepchanges are not necessarily used at the same time.

' Guide carrier 86 is reciprocated by-pivot 84 carried by collar 83" secured on reciprocating rod 86., It pivots on pin" 90' adjustable in-slot 92 of member 94'. Member 94 is: mounted by collar-s 95 to turn on rod 80. It has a downward extension 97 engaging a groove in nut 99' and holding: the: nut against rotation. Nut 99 is threaded on a turnable worm shaft 101.

Red 78 carries a member 193 held in position by set screw so that it. can, be removed and reversed on the rod. This carries a pivoted pawl 107 pushed by spring 109 into engagement with one. half or the other of a wheel 111,; the two halves of the wheel having v oppositely 70 directed. ratchet teeth thereon. This wheel is fixed on shaft, 161..

, .At its upperend. (Fig. 5), arm 86v has a. hole 113 for asaaoea the flexible material which is guided to this hole by a wheel 115.

A spindle for use on this machine is shown in detail inFigy6.

Spindle shaft 18 has a section 19 of reduced crosssection. Secured against the flanges at the ends of section 19 are the edges of an inflatable member 21 formed of flexible, airtight but non-stretchable material such as canvas impregnated with rubber. Two end parts of this member are of hemispherical form, while the intermediate part is a cylinder joining the two spheres. Tension springs 23 connected between member 21 and shaft section 19 help in collapsing the member so that a package wound on it can be withdrawn from the spindle.

Member 21 can be inflated by air introduced through a passage 25 formed in the spindle. The air is introduced through a hose connection 27 and check valve 29. It can be-released by opening valve -31 threaded in, spider 33. Spindle 18 also has just beyond the ends of section 19 spring ball catches 35. These serve for releasably holding against the ends of'form 21 conical forms 37,

the use of which will be described below.-

In laying up a package on such a spindle, the bights of the coils will lie in planes such as that represented by the dot-and-dash line in Fig. 6 which runs through the center of the spherical end portion and through the crossover point on the periphery of the spindle. Angle a between this plane and the longitudinal axis of the spindle should be equal to the angle of conicity b of the cones 37.

Fig. 7 shows the formation of a package with the machine shown in the Taylor and Whipple application,

7 but with rounded ends such as would be formed on the spindle of Fig. 6 but without the conical end portions. In Fig. 7, 35A represents the furthest point of guidetravel towards the right, and 35A represents successive layers each formed of a plurality of coils, each coil forming at least one figure 8' and with the crossovers of successive coils being angularly displaced around the package.

The bight of each coil will lie substantially in a plane which is defined by the line connecting the crossover tobetween which is less than the thickness of each layer.

The flexible material will then run partly around the spindle, and will not reverse immediately as it should for an ideal wind.

In Fig. 8, it will be assumed that the points 41, 41', 41" represent the furthest movement of the guide to the right in the formation of corresponding coils of successive layers 37A. Lines 43, 43, 43 then represent the planes of the coils of successive layers, and it will be noted that these planes are parallel.

In this arrangement, the successive intersections of lines 43, 43, with the spindle are spaced further apart than in Fig. 7, as a result of which the flexible material reverses immediately and an excess of material is not built up at the ends of the package.

. This winding is accomplishedby the machine above described in the following manner;

During each reciprocation of the guide 86, rod 80 moves in one direction and rod 78 in the other direction. Once in each complete reciprocation, pawl 107 on rod 78 will engage ratchet wheel 111 and will impart a slight turning movement to shaft 101, thus moving nut 99 along'the 'itself improves the stability of the package.

;-material.

With these arrangements, the'likelihood that any coil i give the desired advance, which may substantially equal the rate of increase in the radius of the package as successive layers are formed.

For some types of winding, where the largest layers are laid first, it may be desirable to move the guide progressively away from the spindle. This may be done by reversing pawl carrier 103 on rod 78 and adjusting it to engage the other set of ratchet teeth on wheel 111.

Fig. 9 shows a modified shape of spindle. The ends 45 are formed as portions of spheres, but are joined by a trunk 47 in the form of two conical frustums meeting at the center of the cone.

In Fig. 10, the spherical end portions 49 are joined by a reversely curved central portion 51.

Instead of a long, relatively thin spindle, some windings may be better formed on a relatively short, thick spindle. Fig. ll shows half of such a spindle, formed of two partly spherical sections 53 and with conical end supports 55. In the spindle of Fig. 12, spherical parts 57 are connected by a slightly bowed cylindrical portion 59.

Fig. 13 shows'a package of material wound in accordance with the invention on the spindle of Fig. 6. The flexible material is indicated at 61. The inner end 63 of the. flexible material is led out through hole 65.

This package'has the surface of the end edges 67 of the successive layers in the form of a conical frustum whose apex is directed inwardly; This shape in and of However, it may be desirable to apply a small amount of adhesive tothese surfaces to improve the stability. Also, I may insert into the end of the package a conical support 69 which may be of metal, carboard, wood or any other suitable material. This may, if desired, have on its surface a slightly adhesive material to hold it in place and to prevent undesired movement of the flexible will be displaced before its proper turn comes in the withdrawal is greatly reduced, and the stability of the package is increased.

, Instead ofv directing the apex of the cone towards the center of the package, it may be directed away from it as shown in Fig. 1.4. Here again adhesive or a frusto- 4 conical support 71 or both may be used.

- that the support 73 extends into the package and may be a full cone if desired.

Fig. 15 shows'a package like that of Fig. 13 except In the production'of' such'a package, the procedure illustrated in Figs. 16 to 18 may be advantageous. In these,; the spindle 18 is first supplied with one or more layers of tapeor ribbon 212, which may be of a portion of the width .of the spindle','as shown, or may be of the full width of the spindle, and may be applied circumferentially around it. The package is then wound on this tape, and the package and tape are removed from the spindle The inner end 216 of the tape is pulled out through the'core opening before use, leaving the finished package ready for the withdrawal of the inner end of the flexible material through the radial hole therein.

This method can be used-either for a half-wind package or-forpackages of a higher number of winds.

The result is that there is a crossing over of the coils and the package has a rounded end, as shown in Fig. 18. This formation'in no way reduces the eifectiveness of the withdrawaL-and has the advantage of adding to the self-sustaining properties of the package.

Thecpresentinvention is applicable both to packages formed as shown in the prior applications referred .to above andto th'oseformed in'other ways, as for example in the manner-shown in'rny applications S. N. 344,875 .and 344,876; both filed March 26, 1953'. The packages may also-utilizesorne on all of the improvements described in my appIicatiQnsS'N. 344,872,344373, and

"344,874. filed March 26, -3.. v V

The invention is applicable both to resilient or relatively flexible materials, such as wire, cable and tubing as well as to textiles such as yarn, thread, cord or rope.

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

1. A package of flexible material having an annular core space around which the material is wound in a body and an opening into such core space through the body of the package through which the inner free end of the material can be drawn out, said package being formed of a plurality of layers of coils each forming at least one figure 8, the planes of the loops of the coils in successive layers forming substantially a constant angle with the longitudinal axis of the core space.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1, the end portions of each layer being turned inward toward the axis of the core space.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2 in which said end portions are in the shape of portions of a sphere.

4. A package as claimed in claim 3, the outer edges of successive layers being at progressively varying distances from the axis of the core space.

5. A package as claimed in claim 4 in which the outer edges form a substantially frusto-conical surface.

6. A package as claimed in claim 5 in which the apex of said surface is towards the center of the package.

7. A packageas claimed in claim 1, the outer edges of successive layers being at progressively varying distances from the axis of the core space.

8. A package as claimed inclaim 7 in which the outer edges form a substantially frusto-conical surface.

9. A package of flexible material having an annular core space around which the material is wound in a body 35 and an opening into such core space through the body of the package through which the inner free end of the material can be drawn out, said package being formed v of a plurality of layers of coils each forming at least one figure 8, the end portions of each layer being turned inward toward the axis of the core space.

10. A package as claimed in claim 9 in which said end portions are in the shape of portions of a sphere.

11. A package as claimed in claim 9, the outer edges of successive layers being at progressively varying distances from the axis of the core space.

12. A package of flexible material having an annular core space around which the material is wound in a body and an opening into such core space through which the inner free end of the-material can be drawn out, said package being formed of a'plurality of layers of coils each forming at least one figure 8, the outer edges of successive layers being at progressively varying distances from the axis of the core space, the outer edges of the package forming substantially frusto-conical surfaces.

13. A package as claimed in claim 12 having a piece secured in each end provided with a surface engaging the outer edges of the layers.

14. A package as claimed in claim 13 in which said piece is an inwardly directed cone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,794 Weidmann Jan. 20, 1931 2,292,725 Treckmann Aug. 11, 1942 2,358,294 Atherton Sept. 19, 1944 2,621,867 Grettve Dec. 16, 1952 2,625,338 McArn Jan. 13, 1953 2,634,918 Taylor et a1 Apr. 14, 1953 2,634,923 Taylor Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,527 Switzerland Apr. 4, 1911 137,997 Switzerland May 1, 1930 556,886 France Apr. 23, 1923 

